Ken Wample, left, manager of Vandalia Walmart, has accepted the challenge from Vandalia Rotary Club in this month's Rotary Club "Making a Difference" challenge, held in conjunction with the Red Cross blood drive next Tuesday. Rotary President Lyn Gartke, right, issued the challenge to Walmart. The group that brings the most potential donors to the drive is the winner.

For the first time in its 42-year run, the Grande Levée is not being held in the dead heat of summer.
The period celebration at the Vandalia Statehouse, which has previously been held on Father’s Day weekend in June, will now be held this weekend.
And, along with the period crafts, music and food that will be provided during that celebration, the Vandalia Tourism Committee is offering the town’s Corn Day Festival.

The Vandalia Board of Education on Tuesday passed a deficit budget for the current year that shows estimated revenues of $13,712,409 and estimated expenditures of $14,837,305.
That $1,124,896 shortfall will be covered by the district’s operating fund balance (which currently stands at $4,097,390).
Superintendent Rich Well said that the deficit resulted from a combination of factors – a decrease of nearly $1 million in federal and state funds, and an increase in the cost of supplies and services needed by the district.

It was incorrectly stated in last week's issue that Fayette County employees pay $400 a month for health insurance coverage. The county pays employee premiums and part of the difference for deductibles, according to County Clerk Terri Braun.
Board member Glenn Gurtner was quoted as saying the health insurance was "a luxury." He said he was referring to dental and vision coverage.
We apologize for errors.

✔ TOPS IL 2490 will meet from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is from 9-9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Dovie Heaton-Bergin at 283-1729.
✔ TOPS IL 1872, Ramsey, will meet at the Christian Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is at 6:20 p.m., and the meeting is at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Donna Morell at 423-2916.
Friday, September 23

✔ The 42nd annual Grande Levée gets under way on the Vandalia Statehouse grounds. Schedule information appears on pages 1 and 16.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White encouraged parents and caregivers to make sure children are properly secured in appropriate child safety seats, including booster seats, as studies show the vast majority are improperly installed.
White made the announcement during National Child Passenger Safety Week.

Fayette County, as trustee, has completed its tax deed proceedings on real estate properties that were delinquent for 2007 and mobile homes that were delinquent for 2008 and prior real estate taxes.
The county will now offer for sale the real estate and mobile homes obtained to the public. They will offer approximately 13 real estate items and two mobile home items through a sealed bid auction sale.